The manager moved closer, his fingers tightening around his blade. “You killed him because you don’t agree with his practices, yes?”
I frowned, trying to keep up. How long had they hated my family? How long had they waited to overthrow us? My heart thundered with their combined hurt and hope. They’d killed in order for me to help them.
We were on the same path.
Bracing myself, I banished myself from my family, vanquishing any relation. I let myself be true with the men who’d saved my life. “No, I don’t agree with his practices. If I’m honest, I never did.”
“We can tell.” The manager smiled. “We watched you while you were younger. You are not like them.”
He didn’t know he’d just given me a compliment I would always remember. All my life, I hated the fact I wasn’t like my family, that I was an outcast, a disappointment. But now...now, I couldn’t be more fucking thankful.
It just saved my life.
I pressed a fist over my heart. “I’m forever in your debt.”
Debt.
Indebted.
It seemed Nila wasn’t indebted any more, but I was. A Hawk owing a debt. I rather liked the responsibility of paying them back after something so unforgettable.
The manager lowered his machete. “You’ll help us?”
I nodded. “I give you my word.”
He grunted under his breath. “Good.”
“I promise I’ll change everything you are not happy with. But first...I really need to go after my father. I need to save—”
“The woman. Yes. I know.” The manager sidestepped, waving at the exit. “A Jeep is waiting at the top of the mine. The driver will take you to the airport.”
I couldn’t stop the swell of gratitude. Moving toward the ziplock bag Cut had left behind after loading up Nila’s cast with as many diamonds as he could fit, I scooped out a handful, stuffed them into my dirty jeans, and handed him the remains.
Inside rested countless jewels to be included in the next shipment. Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of stones. “Please, call me Kite. Spread this out amongst your men. I’ll be back as soon as I’ve controlled the situation at home.”
He grinned, taking the diamonds. “Thank you, boss.”
I shook my head. “No, thankyou.”
Moving a few paces, my legs argued and my gunshot wound protested, but I had bigger things to worry about.
I had to get home.
I had to fly.
Looking one last time at the manager and workers who had changed my future, I stalked from the room as smoothly as I could. I ignored my headache. I dismissed the pains and discomfort in my muscles. I charged through the earthen labyrinth and exploded outside.
Fresh air.
New beginning.
Blinding hope.
This is it.
This was my true inheritance.
I’d earned the loyalty of men by remaining true to who I was.
